How to Make Cold Brew Coffee at Home

Cold brew is one of the easiest things you can make at home — and one of the most misunderstood. It's not iced coffee. It's not complicated. And once you make it yourself, you'll wonder why you ever paid $6 for it at a coffee shop.

Here's everything you need to know.

What Is Cold Brew?

Cold brew is coffee brewed with cold or room temperature water over a long period of time — usually 12 to 24 hours. No heat involved. The slow extraction produces a coffee concentrate that's naturally smooth, low in acidity, and slightly sweet compared to hot-brewed coffee.

It's different from iced coffee, which is just hot-brewed coffee poured over ice. Cold brew is its own thing — and it's better.

What You Need

• Coarsely ground coffee
• Cold or room temperature filtered water
• A large jar, pitcher, or French press
• A fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or coffee filter

That's it. No special equipment required.

The Ratio

Use a 1:4 ratio for concentrate — 1 cup of coffee grounds to 4 cups of water. This makes a concentrate you dilute before drinking.

If you want ready-to-drink cold brew (no diluting), use a 1:8 ratio instead.

Step-by-Step

1. Grind your coffee coarse. Think raw sugar texture — coarser than drip, similar to French press. A coarse grind prevents over-extraction and keeps the cold brew smooth.

2. Combine coffee and water. Add your grounds to a large jar or pitcher. Pour cold or room temperature filtered water over them. Stir gently to make sure all the grounds are saturated.

3. Steep for 12–24 hours. Cover and place in the refrigerator. 12 hours gives you a lighter, brighter cold brew. 18–24 hours gives you something bolder and more concentrated. Start at 16 hours if you're not sure.

4. Strain. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter into a clean jar or pitcher. This removes the grounds and gives you a clean, smooth concentrate.

5. Store and serve. Cold brew concentrate keeps in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. To serve, dilute 1:1 with water, milk, or your preferred alternative. Pour over ice and enjoy.

Best Coffee for Cold Brew

Not all coffee works equally well for cold brew. You want something with natural sweetness and body that holds up well to the long steep without turning bitter.

Mexico Single Origin — mild, chocolatey, and naturally low acid. One of the best cold brew origins we carry.

Cold Brew Coffee — our dedicated cold brew blend, ground coarse and ready to steep. Takes the guesswork out completely.

Brazil Santos — nutty, smooth, low acid. Works beautifully as a cold brew concentrate, especially if you're adding milk or cream. Find it in our single-origin collection.

House Blend — balanced and approachable. A reliable everyday cold brew that works for everyone. Grab the House Blend here.

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Tips for Better Cold Brew

Use filtered water. Cold brew is mostly water, so water quality matters more than in hot brewing.

Don't rush it. Under-steeped cold brew tastes weak and flat. Give it the full time.

Grind fresh if you can. Pre-ground works, but freshly ground coffee makes a noticeably better cold brew. Learn more about why freshness matters.

Label your jar. It's easy to forget when you started steeping. Write the time on a piece of tape and stick it to the jar.

The Slow Brew

There's something fitting about cold brew. You set it up the night before, go to sleep, and wake up to something ready and waiting. No rushing, no fussing. Just patience rewarded.

That kind of slow, intentional process — doing the work ahead of time so the morning is easier — is a small but meaningful habit. Cold brew is a good reminder that the best things often just need time.

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